Summarizes several areas of research related to second language class size, organized by studies of elementary and secondary class size, English as a Second Language, general variables of second language acquisition, and large class studies. (Author/VWL)

Provides an overview of the economic approach to the question of the value of English. Discusses reasons why this question is attracting increasing attention, and examines the labor market in Switzerland, presenting methodological aspects and providing fundamental statistical reports. Results indicate that for Switzerland as a whole, English…

Explores the nature of reading for meaning as it affects the reading abilities of secondary school age pupils who are bilingual and Muslim. Discusses competing theories that seek to account for the reading process and links these to a study that examines the reading strategies employed by bilingual pupils who have experienced intensive Qur'anic…

Provides an overview of English language education in Cuba. Discusses the historical role of English in Cuba, the introduction of English for specific purposes, and the current status of English instruction. (Author/VWL)

Review research on foreign language aptitude and its measurement prior to 1990. Describes research areas in the 1990s, including affective variables, language learning strategies, learning styles as contributors to aptitude and aptitude as a cognitive construct affected by language variables. Reviews research on individual differences and the…

Describes the central issues confronting Teaching English as a Second or Other Language (TESOL) in China today. Examines overall trends and identifies challenges. Particular emphasis is on teacher education; instructional materials, and assessment. (Author/VWL)

Investigates effectiveness of three training programs for English as a Foreign Language university students in reading and listening comprehension. Finds that: students who learned rhetorical patterns of written expository texts and text mapping strategies demonstrated better comprehension of lectures than students who performed other activities;…

Examined the differential role of comprehension and production practice in second language learning. Discusses the results of a study of 82 first-year students of Spanish as a second language that indicated that relative effectiveness of production versus comprehension practice depended on the morphosyntactic complexity of the structure in…

Draws on components of sociocultural theory in the organization of a second language composition course and the creation of activities designed to improve students' written skills in the second language. (Author/VWL)

Argues that students' mother tongue should be allowed in the second language classroom sometimes and for certain purposes. Conducted an empirical study within the context of tertiary level English reading classes in China to see whether students' mother tongue is used, the purposes for using it, and the attitudes of teachers and students toward…

Presents the story of a Nicaraguan immigrant who came to America as a child in 1955, describing his experiences moving through an English-speaking school system that did not make accommodations for his linguistic and cultural minority needs. The paper discusses bilingual education and explains that educators, researchers, and policymakers must…

Focuses on factors affecting timing in conventional communicative second-language classrooms, summarizes research evidence on the significance of timing, and identifies contexts where timing should be a consideration. The article argues for more use of time lapses, particularly deliberated silences, within the framework of classroom dynamics. (26…

Examines knowledge of semantics-syntax correspondences in second-language acquisition (SLA) within the Principles and Parameters framework. A parameter of semantic structure is used to investigate change of state locatives and "psychological" verbs. Results indicate that for some learners, first-language influence persists until advanced stages of…

Examines the value of conversation partner programs that pair up second language students and native speakers for out-of-class conversation. Findings reveal the activities conversation partners engage in, the perceived advantages of the experience for nonnative and native participants, and the problems encountered. Results can be used to guide…

Focuses on the role of community colleges as education providers for population segments needing foreign language education. The article emphasizes the need to hire foreign language teachers with appropriate credentials, qualifications, and motivation and delineates interviews conducted with potential teaching candidates. (one reference) (CK)